Scottish drivers say ‘Don’t mess up my motor’

Dawn Renton

A new online survey has revealed what Scottish drivers hate most about their passengers.

Motorists were asked which passenger habits annoy them most, with messy friends, backseat drivers and distracting passengers all topping the country’s hit list.

Over a third cited leaving a mess in the car as their ultimate pet hate – while over 25 per cent of motorists expressed their disdain for unsolicited driving advice and in-car distractions.

This new survey sheds light on the bad habits that drive Scots wild on the road – with results ranging from issues of etiquette to bona fide road hazards.

In-car etiquette

Polite passengers are in short supply according to the study, conducted by The Car Loan Warehouse – as drivers revealed the faux pas they can’t forgive.

With 34.4 per cent of the vote, leaving a mess in the car emerged as the most annoying habit of all – while slamming doors and putting feet on seats scooped over 20 per cent apiece.

When it comes to making a mess in the car, some Scots have stronger feelings than others – with 52 per cent of women surveyed citing this as their ultimate annoyance compared to just 21.7 per cent of men.

Unsurprisingly, breaking wind in the car is not a popular passenger habit – with over 27 per cent of people surveyed sharing their feelings about this in-car faux pas.

The driver’s seat

With 29.3 per cent of participants taking aim at backseat drivers, and a further 25.7 per cent waging war on bad directions, it looks like Scots are keen to stay in control when it comes to their driving duties.

Over 60 per cent of men say they wish their passengers would mind their own business – with 46 per cent annoyed by bad driving advice, and 37 per cent sick of dodgy directions.

The car radio and air con are off limits, according to 19 per cent of Scots – and with 16 per cent of the vote, ‘are we there yet?’ is the last sound drivers want to hear on the road.

As charities across the UK continue to bring road safety issues to the forefront, it looks like Scotland’s drivers are staying safety conscious – and distracting passengers are the ones feeling their wrath.

28.1 per cent of all respondents said passengers who distract them while they’re driving are the greatest nuisance – along with a third of 55-64 year olds.

Some Scots cited talking too much and even whistling as the things they found most annoying about their passengers – suggesting that in-car noise may be one of the unspoken dangers drivers face.

Other responses included constant criticism from passengers, complaints about their choice of music and, worryingly, leaving nail clippings inside the car.

Jonathan Le Roux, co-founder and director at The Car Loan Warehouse, said: “No one likes a litter-bug and it seems like the general public hate dirty cars too.

“Moral of the survey is: get in, close the door carefully, don’t fiddle with the buttons and, most importantly of all, NEVER leave your rubbish.”

Topline results:

Leaving their mess in the car: 34.4 per cent

Being a backseat driver: 29.3 per cent

Distracting you while you’re driving: 28.1 per cent

Breaking wind in the car: 27.6 per cent

Giving bad directions: 25.7 per cent

Slamming doors: 23.8 per cent

Putting their feet on the seats: 20.1 per cent

Changing the radio station: 19.8 per cent

Eating/drinking in the car: 19 per cent

Adjusting the air con: 17.9 per cent

Asking ‘Are we there yet?’: 16 per cent

Not chipping in for petrol: 14.7 per cent

Other: 6.3 per cent

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